Miliband rolls the pitch

David Cameron didn’t deliver a bad speech at his party conference; it was fine. Tories will have loved it : a defence of privilege, phoney, puffed-up patriotism, no mention of the Liberal Democrats, no mention of the environment, self-delusion about NHS budget cuts, business as usual, chase the sunshine out, embrace the darkness, normal service has been resumed.

But the entire Tory conference was shaped by Ed Miliband’s ‘One Nation’ assault on Cameron’s record as Prime Minister so far and of the kind of country the Tories want to create. George Osborne talked about little else but Ed Miliband’s speech and to his surprise and undoubted anger, David Cameron was forced to do the same. Content matters, but so does context and the parameters of our national political debate – all of which has now been shaped by Ed Miliband.

Whether of the left or right, it should concern all of us that a Prime Minister of two and a half years should still be trying to detoxify his party in the full gaze of the public at a time of near economic collapse. It should worry us that the same Prime Minister is still trying to explain his political purpose, that of his party, or that of his government. For Labour, this is political gold, for the country it’s a painful, slow-moving disaster seemingly bereft of rhyme or reason. None can forget that the whole purpose of Cameron’s coalition was to reduce the deficit, yet the deficit has grown exponentially as a result of the government’s economic myopia. Not unreasonably, the ordinary floating voter can see and feel that Cameron’s plan is hurting, but it isn’t working.

Wrapped up in Cameron’s speech was yet another evocation of the motivations of the man behind the cuts. Gone are the superficial economic arguments, replaced by a hard right ideological agenda- now in full view – propped up by myth and prejudice and a truly confused tilt at explaining the moral cause behind the pain.

I actually agree with the Prime Minister on one point; class war is a redundant game and I really do wish he would stop waging it upon the rest of us. As a lefty politico, I’m delighted by the big and easy target Cameron has painted, but as a father of four representing the most remote English parliamentary constituency from Westminster, I’m depressed by the legacy Cameron will bequeath my community.

Political commentators in the mainstream media have acknowledged that the ‘game’ has changed; that the 2015 election is up for grabs is now the consensus position. But the pain of the government’s programme is only now just beginning to be felt around the country. In those parts of the country where the police stations, courts, sports centres, hospital wards, libraries and more are closing there is a growing disaffection that has yet to find its voice.

This forgotten Britain will find its voice and David Cameron’s inability to say anything to demonstrate that he understands their concerns, even before considering whether or not he is willing or able to address them, suggests that although Britain’s best days may still lie ahead of it, David Cameron’s may very well be behind him.

Miliband has rolled the pitch. Game on.